Simulated Construction Management Through Web Based Observation Of An On Campus Construction Project

A unique experience was afforded The University of Toledo Construction Engineering Technology (CET) program through the cooperation of a local construction manager. The construction of a new multi-story student residence hall on campus was to be managed by a firm that had also developed its own web-based project management/workflow software system. The CET program was offered access to this system which allowed for remote observation of the day-to-day construction administration of the two-year project. Student access to the project was tied to the department’s required senior project capstone class. A select group of students from that class were then able to connect with a project that they saw everyday on campus. The student team was responsible for an established set of project administration tasks that were to be performed on a periodic basis throughout the semester. Team members were required to take on multiple roles throughout the project, acting as construction managers, subcontractors, owners representatives and design consultants in order to address the situations that arose randomly based on the actual construction progress. Communication of construction progress was also fostered through required class presentations. Students gained the ability to make real-time decisions regarding the project and gain exposure to valuable lessons in the process of construction management. Additionally, the students gained exposure to the use of a web-based document and workflow process that is becoming the norm in the construction industry for control of complex projects. This paper chronicles and analyzes the development of the first in a proposed succession of similar semester experiences for CET students in the senior capstone class.